Hampton High grad David Watford to get concentrated QB reps in Monday's practice at U.Va., has chance to impress

U.Va. coach Mike London wasn't ready to establish some kind of new pecking order on his quarterback depth chart when he spoke with media this morning via teleconference, but it was obvious he's at least intrigued with what he's seeing from Hampton High graduate David Watford.

London said the plan for today's football practice is to give sophomore Michael Rocco and Watford, a freshman who enrolled in January, more reps than sophomore Ross Metheny and redshirt freshman Michael Strauss. Up until this point, U.Va.'s depth chart had listed Rocco and Metheny as co-No. 1's at the position, with Watford and Strauss as co-No. 2's. London didn't say anything about adjusting the depth chart quite yet.

"As we go into today's practice, Michael Rocco is going to get the reps that he needs and so is David Watford," London said. "We're going to look at an extended number of reps for Michael and make sure David gets his opportunities also. That's not to say anything about what Ross is doing or what Michael Strauss is doing. We're just going to start picking the spots in the practices that we're going to get more looks for guys we want to get a strong, strong evaluation (on).

"(Rocco and Watford are) going to get the concentrated amount of reps as we go into this practice to make sure that as we evaluate them in all situations - first down, second down, third down, goal line, red zone, pass scale - that they get the number of reps needed to make a good, full evaluation. Not reading into they've done the best, but I know I want to make sure that I've done my due diligence in giving them the reps and the opportunities to do this."

U.Va. had a lengthy scrimmage over the weekend that featured about 100 plays. Based on what he saw in the scrimmage, London said he wants to take a closer look at Watford.

As indicated in this blog last Tuesday, it definitely seems like U.Va. is heading to a situation where Rocco will be the opening day starter. At this point, it seems safe to assume anybody other than Rocco being the starter Sept. 3 against William & Mary would represent a mild upset (barring an injury, of course).

I also suggested in the blog maybe Watford is the most viable option as the top backup because he possesses an element none of the other three quarterbacks can offer - scrambling ability and positive yardage potential with his feet. It's also clear Watford has at least progressed to the point where he's more comfortable in a college huddle - something that didn't appear readily apparent in the spring when he was routinely fumbling snaps from center and generally looking like a guy overwhelmed by the whole situation.

Again, there's nothing definite from London at this stage, but Watford has a chance. He's not going to be in a spot where the coaching staff just defaults, slaps a redshirt on him and has him live in the weight room and the film room for a year. There may be some on-field plans for the kid this fall. Stay tuned.

"Michael Rocco is going to get the majority of the reps (in today's practice)," London said. "He's put himself in a position to do that. In order to be fair to a quarterback that hasn't had the amount of reps that Ross Metheny or...Michael Strauss has had - (the coaches want) to give David an opportunity to have some of those reps. He did some nice things in the scrimmage. You can't divide reps up equally between four quarterbacks, so we want to do is find out if the development of David with more reps will put him (where he can) rise to a level of competing for a position to play. I think that's kind of the concentration.

"Michael (Rocco) has done a nice job. All the guys have done a nice job, but now the time is coming to put guys in position, for (offfensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach) Bill Lazor to call particular pass plays and concepts to see if David Watford can make the correct read, if Michael Rocco can make the correct read. Then, when you have those questions answered positively or negatively, you have a guy like Ross who's been in games, who's played in games, who's had some reps that just switching the roles again and given the reps he would hopefully make those types of good decisions. I just want to make sure I've given the opportunity for David and Michael Strauss to a certain extent to have the reps to show that whether it's a read or a throw or a decision that they could do it if you put them in a game.

"(The scrimmage) was the first time that the coaches were off on the sideline and the guys were out there. I was the only one out there (with the players). I wanted to listen to how (the quarterbacks) commanded the huddle, the presence, whether or not they had happy feet, what the players in the huddle were talking about, what plays were made, who was a guy that could pick them up and get them going, and I think I need to evaluate David more in that situation. He's a talented player, so we'll see. All these guys know that everyday is a practice of evaluating where you are and where you need to be. I think we are now in a position to look at (Rocco and Watford) getting the reps that they need."